Coin mechanism for gas and electricity meters and the like



Jan. 15, 1935. E. w. 5km-H- Al 1,988,054

COIN MECHANISM FOR GAS AND ELECTRICITY METERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1953 Inven tor s .12H-fw" Attorney.

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES COIN MECHANISM FOR GAS AND ELEC- TRICITY METERS AND THE LIKE Ernest William Smith and Arthur Charles, London, England Application May 2, 1933, Serial No. 668,952 In Great Britain January 12, 1933 3 Claims.

This invention relates to coin freed mechanism for gas and electricity meters and like mechanisms provided with a rotatable coin holder into which the coins are inserted against the action of a force resiliently applied.

In such coin holder mechanism it frequently happens that the coin is not wholly introduced into the slot but remains partially projecting therefrom and where the slot is provided in a fixed plate with reference to which the coin holder has relative movement the partially projecting coin obstructs the rotation of the coin holder.

The invention has among its objects to provide means automatically to ensure the insertion of the coin into the coin holder pocket to the full extent before the coin holder is: rotated, to provide means whereby the coin slot in the outer fixed plate is closed before the coin holder is moved and to provide a lock between the coin holder and the fixed plate which may be automatically released when the handle of the coin holder is operated.

According to the invention the coin holder is rotated relatively to the fixed plate by means of a handle adapted for relative movement in a limited degree with reference to the coin holder and the said handle carries in a position to the rear of the iixed plate a cam plate which, in the rotation of the handle to rotate the coin holder, is caused to travel across the slot in the i'lxed plate and to apply a force in the direction of the coin holder pocket upon the edge of the coin protruding through the slot in the iixed plate.

According to the invention, moreover, the coin holder is adapted to be locked to the iixed plate in a position in which the coin pocket is opposite the slot in the ilxed plate by means of a catch carried by the coin holder and engaging the fixed plate and so disposed that on the completion of the movement of the cam across the slot in the fixed plate the cam serves to disengage the catch from the xed plate and thus to permit the coin holder to rotate relatively to the xed plate.

According to the invention, moreover, the cam and the handle with which it is engaged are provided to be relatively movable with reference to the coin holder in such manner that when the cam has pressed the projecting coin into the slot of the fixed plate, and has also advantageously closed the slot in the fixed plate, the coin holder being freed by the catch is positively rotated with reference to the iixed plate.

The invention further comprises the features of construction hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing.

Figure l is a plan view of a price change disc and coin holder supported thereon illustrating the coin injector mechanism according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the price change dise and coin holder carrier disc.

Figure 3 is a iront View of the coin holder carrier disc with the associated parts.

In carrying the invention into effect according to a particular construction of coin holder mechanism adapted for use in respect of a gas prepayment meteif as illustrated in the drawing, the coin holder a is mounted in the usual manner upon a carrier disc b rotatably disposed to the rear of the fixed price change disc c. A clearance recess or space b1 is provided between the price change disc and the coin holder carrier disc, which recess may be formed either inthe forward face of the carrier disc or in the rear face of the price change disc or partly in both, and is advantageously of circular form. Within the said recess there 1s mounted a cam plate d of segment-like form, which, in` coincidence with the vaxis of the coin holder, is provided with an elongated hole d1 to be received upon a short spindle e1 of similar crosssection provided upon the handlee of the coin holder, the said spindle being introduced through the forward face of the price change disc c and through a suitable hole in the carrier disc b. The portion of the spindle e1 projecting through the carrier disc is circumferentially grooved at e2 to receive a forked spring washer f or clip by which the spindle is re tained in its position relatively to the price change disc and the carrier disc.

The forward edge of the cam plate d consid ered in the direction of rotation of the handle e for turning the coin holder a, is so formed that in the initial position of the handle the said forward edge of the cam plate lies to the rear of the slot or slots d 2 by which coins are intrciced into the coin holder a, so that when the handle e is subjected to rotation to effect the rotation of the coin holder the forward edge of the cam plate is caused to traverse the slot while lying at an angle transversely thereto in such manner as to impart to a coin projecting from the slot pressure in the direction of the coin pocket, and thus in the continued rotation of the handle to pass between the price change disc and the coin and to obturate the slot.

In order that the carrier disc may be locked to the price change disc when the coin slots are in coincidence the carrier disc is provided with a catch g in the form of a leaf springr arm extending radially on the rear face and mounted at its inner end by means of a rivet or screw upon the carrier disc b and having its outer end diverted to form a catch element substantially at right angles to the plate, which element is adapted to extend through an opening b2 in the carrier disc to enter into a slot or recess c 1 in the price change disc. The said catch is further provided with a stud, pin or projection g1, which may be pressed from the metal of which it is formed, which stud, pin or projection extends through the recess or hole b2 in the carrier disc into the path of the forward edge of the cam plate at a position to be engaged by the said forward edge when the cam plate has obturated the slot. By such means in the continued rotation of the cam plate relatively to the carrier disc the catch y is pressed rearwardly to disengage from the price change disc.

The extent of rotation of the cam plate relatively to the carrier disc is determined by a stop b3 mounted on the forward face of the carrier disc b or pressed out of the metal from which itis formed, such stop being engaged by the forward edge of the cam plate d, after the cam plate has released the catch g, to carry the coin holder forward with the handle.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction hereinbefore described and that it may be applied to coin holder mechanisms in which a plurality of coin slots are provided. It is only necessary in this case that the forward edge of the cam plate should be formed accordingly in order that it may press inward a coin in any one of the slots. It will also be understood that the particular form of catch by which the carrier disc is locked to the price change disc may be varied so long as it is of a construction to permit release Aby the cam plate in its rotation relatively to the carrier disc. It will further be understood that the coin holder may be constructed in any suitable manner and the coin inserted in the coin pocket of the coin holder may be rendered eiective to carry out its intended function in any suitable manner without alecting the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Coin-freed mechanism for gas and electricity meters and the like, comprising a fixed plate with coin slot, a coin holder rotatable relatively to the fixed plate and into which coins are inserted through the coin slot in the fixed plate against the action of a force resiliently applied, a handle for rotating the coin holder and a cam plate carried by the said handle to the rear of the xed plate, which cam plate is caused to traverse the slot and to present to the periphery of a coin projecting from the slot an edge which in traversing the slot advances along the slot to press the coin completely into the coin holder.

2. Coin freed mechanism according to claim l, comprising a catch element for locking the coin holder relatively to the fixed plate in the position in which the coin holder is aligned with the coin slot, and an element such as a recess for co-operating with the said catch element, the said elements being provided respectively upon the coin holder and upon the xed plate, the element upon the fixed plate being positioned adjacent the coin slot and in the path of the cam plate in its movement after passing the slot and being so disposed that on the completion of the movement of the cam plate the cam plate disengages the catch and releases the coin holder to rotate relatively to the fixed plate.

3. Coin freed mechanism according to claim l, provided with a stop upon the coin holder, said stop being positioned in the path of the cam plate and determining the relative movement of the handle with respect to the coin holder, such that when the cam plate contacts with the stop the coin holder is rotated by the movement of the handle.

ERNEST WILLIAM SMITH. ARTHUR CHARLES. 

